In Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins makes a full-circle journey home to the Shire after a long adventure. Many such journeys exist in this world, leading down all sorts of paths. Sometimes, even plants experience a long journey. Not to give out spoilers, but that journey is not always an idyllic one. For those who have read my first post, you may have seen the picture of the gorgeous Snow White Zebra plant, with it’s luscious amounts of white variegation and shiny, healthy leaves. I fell in love with it when I saw it just waiting there for me at the plant nursery, and I knew it would grace my living room with exquisite beauty. At least, that is what I told myself.
I consider myself an idealist most of the time. Despite all evidence to the contrary, I tell myself that plants love me and my apartment and will flourish and grow in my living room. By now you know where this is leading. This beautiful, stunning plant has indeed been on a journey, a difficult, light-less journey. Let’s take a second look at the glory of the variegation when I bought it:
There was a wealth of white coloring in the leaves, a good sign of plenty of light and perfect conditions. If you are a plant lover like me, there is nothing quite as exquisite as a perfectly healthy plant. But the rest of the story remains to be told.
This second photo reveals, with much sadness, the loss of the variegation due to the ignominious lack of sunlight in my apartment. The living room receives very little sunlight in the summer, and none in the winter. Even with high-lumen light bulbs, it it not nearly enough for my plants. Most of my plants have developed a severe tilt as they stretch and lean toward the windows in a desperate attempt to seek out more sunlight. Yet, this photo still only tells half the story.
This poor plant has grown so leggy it is almost as tall as me. So many of my plants have become leggy like this in this dungeon of an apartment that it has somewhat slowed the influx of new plants into my home. It’s easy to say this time of year, with the cold weather squelching the garden fever. I know myself, though. Once the weather starts warming, I will find myself wandering into the plant departments of grocery stores and to the local plant nursery, and I will absolutely subject more plants to the low-light environment that is my home. I simply can’t get enough of them, although, I’m sure they’ve had quite enough of me. Not to worry though, next time I write about my plants I’ll be sure to focus on the ones that thrive in the low light, for there are a few plants that don’t curse me for bringing them home. Until then, best of luck with any plant adventures you may have, and if you — like me — have a shady home, be a better plant mom than me, and buy some good grow lights.
Laughing At Myself In An Empty Room 